Meet Bianca Dukesherer | Digital Marketer & Journalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bianca Dukesherer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bianca, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
When I was younger this concept of limiting myself stuck with me. “You can always do more than you think you can” is a John Wooden quote that stood out. We are so used to limiting ourselves, we’re not always aware of it. Once I broke down the barriers of “Can I do it?,” “Am I going to succeed at this?” or “No one else in my life is doing it, so am I making the right choice?” I learned what I was capable of. Even beyond that, I learned I can do more than I know. Every time I travel and some insane thing happens, I make a mistake, or go through a difficult time in my life I am reminded of that. I survive, and to take it one step further, I grow and build myself up. I thrive. I’m always surprised at what we don’t know we are capable of, but that’s kind of the beauty in all of it, I guess. We don’t actually know until we take that leap of faith. Believe in ourselves enough to move forward. The idea of limiting myself at all is now terrifying to me. I’ve broken down my comfort zone so often that I see almost anything as a possibility. Others might call it naivety or judge my situation by their own standards. The truth of the matter is they are stuck in that zone of comfort. At the end of the day, the reminder I have for myself is that no one else matters when it comes to what I am going to do with my life. The standards of how someone else is living their life does not and should not affect me. I am on my own path. So I push forward into the unknown, knowing that I am limitless.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the biggest things that sets me apart from others is my global mindset, and the overall positive energy I integrate into every corner of my life. I feel really proud of how far I’ve come when I think about the fact that I’ve traveled while helping my clients with websites, content and much more. It was a stressful start to Backpacking Bee, LLC. and isn’t always easy but I still love creating content and doing what I can to help others. One of the biggest challenges you run into when you’re working so much on your own is working with various types of people, which can be stressful on its own but then to add to this I am also a travel blogger dealing with new situations every day, working almost completely out of my comfort zone at times. But the benefit of this is you learn so much more about yourself and you grow in each situation that comes up. I became more patient, I learned to listen to my clients, to hear what brands want from me first, and only speak when my words will have an effect. When my passion shines through. I learned that living in other cultures constantly actually sets me apart from others because I am able to bring in cultural background into conversations, I am open minded and can work with a variety of people as a result. When it comes to Backpacking Bee, I want people to know that at the end of the day my goal is to help others, that is where my passion lies and where all the creative energy flows from. This brand is everything from digital marketing, to copywriting and content creation. I love every aspect of it, and as I continue to work on my writing skills in this next chapter of my life where I take on graduate school, I feel grateful for every chapter this brand has brought me to honestly. Every challenge, every turn. It only leads you to something better for you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1 I think for the first day its best to ease your way into the LA life, so I typically will say Santa Monica and Venice beach is a great start. Spend the morning finding a local coffee spot in the area, I typically love visiting Urth Caffe, or Philz. Side-note if you do go to Urth, the matcha is superb. Renting a scooter in this area is always an option to get around as well, explore the area, walk along the strip, sun bathe a bit, shop around on 3rd street, whatever you’re in the mood for. It’ll show you the sights without wearing yourself out too much. A perfect balance. Day 2 One of my favorite beach spots is in Malibu, so I usually recommend going here whether you swim, surf or just chill on the beach this area is a bit more secluded than some of the more touristy spots. Plus, it always looks perfect, you’ll get the California beach experience you want here. Also pro tip: a picnic at sunset would be my go-to as well. Day 3 An area not many know about when it comes to hiking is San Pedro, but the hills in this area are worth the trip. An added benefit is it won’t be as packed as somewhere like the Hollywood hike. The San Pedro Hills hike is located on the cliffs that overlook the beach, nestled on the coast where you can hike up to the top or continue toward the water. Golden hour is also absolutely stunning at this location but you can’t go wrong with any time of day. The Korean Bell is also another picturesque spot located near the water, overlooking the hills in this area, both worth a picture or two if you get the chance. Day 4 Of course, you have to do a few touristy things when coming to the place where Hollywood films were born, I typically recommend Universal Studios or a visit to Warner Brothers to get the experience you might be looking for. If it’s Universal, you’ll most likely spend the full day here and they have a mixture of rides and movie experiences. On the other hand, Warner Brothers would be a half day, set-experience where you learn more about how films and shows are made. Either way its worth some time spent to see it for yourself. Day 5 The LACMA museum is another place I typically recommend, It has such a perfect mixture of historic and modern art which can always be a fun way to spend the day. The modern part of it is always so intriguing to see how it differs from other parts of the world. Los Angeles, always being so up and coming with modernity, you might find this fascinating as well. Veg out and explore the art, find a cute local cafe nearby and your day is set. Day 6 Another location that would be the perfect place to end your California experience on is Huntington Beach. They have everything you could want near this massive stretch of golden sand, from upscale bars with a view to fun dive bars that you’ll want to try out. The food is superb and healthy options are endless. They often have surf brand sales out on the strip as well so if you’re looking to dress the part, and get that oversized billabong tee, this is where you want to be. Day 7 Finish your time in LA with some fun thrifting and chic cafes. My absolute favorite place to go for this is the Melrose Trading Post, such a fun experience and you’re also supporting local artisans. Always a good pro to do. I always find a unique LA-based brand to support when I visit, plus they sometimes have live music and great food to try out. A must-do if you get the chance.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think above all I am grateful for the support system I created for myself. My friendships that were there for me during those times of hardship. Times where I couldn’t really be there for myself fully. In order to grow and be everything you want to be I think it goes to show its okay to not be okay all the time, I’ve struggled and beat myself up but my support system reminded me of my strength and that I am in control of changing how I react to everything that comes my way. Another huge motivation and inspiration for me is my father who honestly never let me limit where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, there was always this idea of being limitless ever since I was young and I think that really benefitted who I became. Our relationship wasn’t always easy but at the end of the day through all of it, he had my back. He had these stories as I was growing up about his travels around the world and what he did and I just remember thinking that it was all possible. That I was going to travel the world and see everything I could. Not everyone has that kind of open-minded, global influence in their lives and I think that is one of the reasons many think it is unattainable. I’m grateful to my dad for opening up the idea so I can help change this for others as well.

Website: www.backpackingbee.com
Instagram: @backpackingbee
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-dukesherer/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/backpackingbee
Facebook: www.facebook.com/backpackingbee/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpz6tRauD8r-CNWoOpn0Kg